Coast Guardsman reaches plea deal in teen sex case

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COQUILLE, Ore. - A member of the U.S. Coast Guard accused of having a sexual dating relationship with an underaged girl pleaded guilty to one count of third degree rape and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

The guilty plea comes after the Coos County District Attorney's Office agreed to drop four other felony charges in exchange for the deal.

Luke Kanada admitted to Judge Michael Gillespie on Tuesday morning that he met the underaged girl at the Coos County Fair last summer, gave her his phone number and then had sex with her that same night.

Police got involved when the young girl was reported as a runaway. After being arrested by police, she told authorities that she hadn't runaway but instead spent the night with Kanada. That is when the investigation into the relationship began.

It was noted in court Tuesday morning by Kanada's attorney and the assistant district attorney acting in place of Fraiser that the victim's mother approved of her daughter sleeping with Kanada and had tried to stall court proceedings because she felt Kanada was being treated too harshly for his actions.

"This is the first time you're out on your own, and when many people are in that situation they screw up. In your case, you screwed up big," Gillespie said to Kanada before sentencing.

Kanada will be forced to register as a sex offender, stay away from females under the age of 18, avoid teenage hangouts, serve probation and pay more than $1,000 in fines.

Kanada's attorney said the process to discharge Kanada from the Coast Guard is set to begin next week.

After that, he said Kanada will move back home to Idaho where he will also have to register as a sex offender.